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China Tours

China is a land of ancient wonders and modern marvels, offering countless experiences for every traveler — a vast country of iconic landmarks, bustling cities, stunning natural landscapes, and a rich history stretching back thousands of years that rewards every traveler with an extraordinary journey through one of the world's greatest civilizations.
China
Taiwan

China Tour Packages

Let our destination specialists help you create a tailor-made itinerary that perfectly fits your travel goals — Firebird offers expertly crafted China tours and China private tours for every type of traveler, from classic China trips covering Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai to comprehensive China vacation packages including Chengdu's Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, a Yangtze River cruise through dramatic gorges, a Li River cruise in Guilin, and the extraordinary Potala Palace in Tibet. China offers 600 tours across various styles — China private tours and small group tours allow for immersive local experiences, and China's high-speed rail network allows efficient travel between major cities. Our China tours include modern hotels, expert local guides, all the highlights of mainland China, and carefully planned itineraries. Contact our destination specialists today to plan your perfect trip to China.
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Two Capitals of China1 country, 2 cities
BeijingXian
7 days
Private tour
From $2,084
China Natural Wonders and Pandas1 country, 5 cities
BeijingXianChengduShanghaiGuilin
16 days
Private tour
From $5,592
The Golden Ring of China2 countries, 4 cities
BeijingXianShanghaiHong Kong
12 days
Private tour
From $3,531
China Treasures with Tibet1 country, 4 cities
BeijingXianLhasaShanghai
13 days
Private tour
From $5,815
China Grand Discovery Tour3 countries, 5 cities
BeijingXianShanghaiTaipeiHong Kong
13 days
Private tour
From $5,555
Imperial China Discovery1 country, 4 cities
BeijingXianGuilinShanghai
12 days
Private tour
From $3,740
Golden Triangle of China1 country, 3 cities
BeijingXianShanghai
10 days
Private tour
From $2,764
The Essence of Asia: from China to Thailand 5 countries, 6 cities
BeijingSeoulTokyoKyotoHong KongBangkok
18 days
Private tour
From $9,788
Modern China Adventure1 country, 4 cities
BeijingChongqingShenzhenShanghai
11 days
Private tour
From $4,145
China Floating Wonders Tours1 country, 4 cities
BeijingXianZhangjiajieShanghai
10 days
Private tour
From $3,073
Best of Asia4 countries, 7 cities
Hong KongBeijingShanghaiSeoulBusanTokyoKyoto
16 days
Private tour
From $9,645
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No other company offers the same level of care, customisation, and quality — find out more about Firebird.

Upscale Journeys

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Full Customization

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Dedicated Experts

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Multi-country

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Top Things to See & Do in China

Highlights of China Tours

Trekking along the legendary Great Wall of China is the most iconic and extraordinary experience on any China tour — the Great Wall of China is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world's most extraordinary ancient monuments, rewarding every traveler with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. The Forbidden City in Beijing served as the imperial palace for 24 emperors — Beijing's Forbidden City is one of the world's most extraordinary and historically significant ancient sites, and the legendary Tiananmen Square and the Summer Palace (Beijing's famous imperial garden) complete Beijing's extraordinary imperial heritage highlights. Xi'an's Terracotta Warriors number around 8,000 individual figures — the extraordinary ancient army buried with China's first emperor rewards every traveler with one of the world's most extraordinary and awe-inspiring archaeological discoveries. A tour of Ming Tombs, the National Museum of China, and exploring Beijing's extraordinary Yonghe Lama Temple complete China's extraordinary capital city highlights for every China trip.

Shanghai boasts a modern skyline and historic Bund waterfront — exploring the Bund in Shanghai, marveling at Shanghai's glass towers and skyscrapers, visiting the Yuyuan Garden (a classical Chinese garden dating back to the Ming Dynasty), and discovering the Jade Buddha Temple reward every China tour traveler with an extraordinary encounter with China's most cosmopolitan and dynamic city. Guilin features iconic rice terraces and karst landscapes — a Li River cruise in Guilin is one of China's most extraordinary and beautiful natural experiences, rewarding every traveler with extraordinary views of the karst mountains reflected in the river. Chengdu is famous for its Giant Panda Breeding Research Base — seeing giant pandas in Chengdu is one of China's most beloved and joyful travel experiences. A Yangtze River cruise offers stunning views of dramatic gorges — the extraordinary Yangtze cruise through the Three Gorges rewards every river cruise traveler with some of China's most spectacular and breathtaking natural scenery. Hiking the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, exploring the Hui Minority Market, and visiting the Potala Palace in Tibet complete China's extraordinary diversity of most popular destinations for every traveler.

More About China

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Just your party. Your dates, your pace, your interests. A specialist builds the itinerary around you, and you travel with your own guide and driver.
Up to 14 travelers, on set dates. The same hotels and guides as a private trip, shared — which is why it costs less. Good if you'd rather not travel alone.
Your own group, any size. Family reunions, clubs, company trips. Our dedicated specialist designs and arranges it for you. And even travels with the group if requested.
Not sure which fits?
Tell us where you want to go and a specialist will suggest one.

What you're really choosing between

Most people planning a big trip end up weighing three things.

Do it yourself
Complete control, several weekends of research, twenty separate bookings that all have to line up, and nobody to call when the train is canceled.

Budget agency
A budget agency will sell you something off the shelf. It's cheap, and you'll find out why when you reach a hotel forty minutes from the city center.

Luxury agency
A luxury agency will build you something beautiful and charge accordingly, often several times what the trip needs to cost.

Firebird
Most agencies resell someone else's trip. We organize our own: the guides, the drivers and the hotel relationships are all Firebird's, which is how we control both the quality and the cost.
A destination specialist plans the trip around you, books every piece and stays reachable the whole way. It's private and tailored, at a price closer to what you'd spend doing it yourself.
Firebird offers unique service to help you travel better
;Do it yourself;Budget agency;<b>Firebird</b>;Luxury agency
Who plans it;You, over several weekends;Nobody — it's off the shelf;<b>A destination specialist, around you</b>;A specialist, around you Who runs the trip;You do;Resold from another company;<b>We do — our own guides and drivers</b>;Usually resold Changing something;Everything, and it's all on you;Dates, mostly;<b>Anything, any time</b>;Anything Between cities;Whatever you manage to book;Buses and budget flights;<b>High-speed trains and private transfers</b>;Private cars Hotels;Guessing from reviews;Budget, often outside the center;<b>Visited by us, in the center</b>;Five-star When it goes wrong;You sort it out;A general support line;<b>Call your specialist</b>;Call your specialist 10 days, per person;$$;$$;<b>$$$</b><br><b>$3,500–6,000</b>;$$$$$

Tips for China Tours

Contact us for more travel tipsGet ready for your tour of China with expert tips, and make the most of every moment!

China Private Tours and Group Tour Options

China private tours are the best way to experience all the highlights of mainland China with complete flexibility and personal attention from expert local guides — China private tours allow complete customization of your China itinerary, from Beijing's Forbidden City and the Great Wall to Shanghai's Bund, Xi'an's Terracotta Warriors, and a Li River cruise in Guilin. China offers 600 tours across various styles — from China private tours and small groups to group tour options covering the Golden Triangle of Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai. The Golden Triangle is a popular introductory route for China tours — the best China tours for first-time visitors combine Beijing's Forbidden City, the Great Wall, Xi'an's Terracotta Warriors, and Shanghai's Bund in one seamless China trip. Small group tours allow for immersive local experiences — cultural tours feature visits to the Great Wall and Forbidden City with knowledgeable local guides who bring China's extraordinary history and culture to life with fascinating stories at every site.

Most Popular Destinations: Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai

Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai are the key destinations for first-time visitors to China — the most popular destinations on any China tour that rewards every traveler with an extraordinary journey through China's imperial past and modern present. Beijing is home to the Forbidden City and the Great Wall — Beijing's extraordinary collection of imperial palaces, ancient temples, and modern landmarks make it one of the world's most extraordinary capital cities and the essential starting point of any China trip. Xi'an is known for its diverse dumpling varieties, the famous Terracotta Warriors, and extraordinary Muslim Quarter Hui Minority Market — one of China's most fascinating and culturally diverse most popular destinations. Shanghai boasts a modern skyline and historic Bund waterfront — Shanghai's extraordinary glass towers, vibrant food scene, and the legendary Bund waterfront make it one of Asia's most extraordinary and dynamic modern cities. China's high-speed rail network allows efficient travel between Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai — making all the highlights of China's most popular destinations accessible in one seamless China vacation package.

Great Wall of China: Most Iconic Landmark

The Great Wall of China is the world's most iconic ancient monument and the single most important highlight of any China tour — the Great Wall of China is a UNESCO World Heritage site stretching over 21,000 kilometres across northern China, rewarding every traveler with extraordinary views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. Trekking along the legendary Great Wall rewards every China traveler with one of the world's most extraordinary walking and hiking experiences — from the restored Great Wall sections near Beijing to the wild and unrestored Great Wall sections of mainland China's most remote regions. Dumpling demonstrations are available near the Great Wall — combining a Great Wall hike with a dumpling-making class and Peking Duck dinner in Beijing is one of China's most popular and rewarding China private tour experiences. The Great Wall of China is one of the best tours highlights on any China vacation package — cultural tours feature visits to the Great Wall and Forbidden City as the two essential highlights of any Beijing and China trip.

China Safe: Practical Travel Tips

China is generally safe for most travelers — many travelers visit China each year and find the country welcoming and safe, with good hotels in all major cities, excellent modern hotels in Beijing and Shanghai, and well-organised transportation throughout mainland China. Internet access in China requires a VPN — travelers should download a VPN before arriving in China, as internet access to Google, Facebook, and other Western platforms is restricted. Tap water in China is generally not safe to drink — bottled water is widely available in good hotels and restaurants throughout mainland China. Squat toilets are common in rural areas and some public spaces in China — travelers should be prepared for squat toilets outside of modern hotels in major cities. Travel to Tibet requires additional permits beyond the standard China visa — our destination specialists provide comprehensive guidance on Tibet permits, internet access requirements, and all China safe travel tips for every China tour traveler.

Li River Cruise and Guilin: China's Most Beautiful Landscape

A Li River cruise in Guilin is one of China's most extraordinary and beautiful natural experiences — river cruises are popular for scenic views in China, and the Li River cruise rewards every traveler with extraordinary views of the extraordinary karst mountains, rice terraces, and rural villages of southern China's most spectacular natural landscape. Guilin features iconic rice terraces and karst landscapes — the extraordinary Longji rice terraces and the dramatic karst peaks of the Guilin area reward every China tour traveler with some of mainland China's most extraordinary and photogenic natural scenery. A Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo is one of China's best tours and most recommended experiences — the extraordinary 4-hour river cruise past bamboo groves, ancient villages, and dramatic karst mountains rewards every traveler with an extraordinary and unforgettable China natural beauty experience. River cruises are popular for scenic views in China — the Li River cruise, the Yangtze cruise through the Three Gorges, and the extraordinary coastal regions river and lake experiences of southern China are all extraordinary natural highlights of any China vacation package.

Hong Kong and China's Coastal Regions

Hong Kong is one of Asia's most extraordinary and dynamic destinations and a wonderful complement to any China tour — the extraordinary Victoria Harbour skyline, the extraordinary Peak tram views, and the vibrant food and culture of Hong Kong reward every China trip traveler with an extraordinary encounter with one of Asia's most fascinating and cosmopolitan cities. China's coastal regions offer extraordinary diversity — from the extraordinary beaches and tropical landscapes of Hainan Island to the extraordinary fishing villages and tea houses of China's southern coastal regions, mainland China's coastline rewards every China vacation package traveler with extraordinary natural beauty and cultural richness. Vietnam combines naturally with China tours — a China and Vietnam combined itinerary covering Beijing, Shanghai, Guilin's Li River cruise, and Vietnam's extraordinary landscapes is one of Asia's most extraordinary and rewarding multi-country adventures. Hong Kong serves as an excellent arrival and departure gateway for China private tours — combining Hong Kong with mainland China on any China vacation package rewards every traveler with an extraordinary encounter with both the extraordinary traditional and extraordinary modern faces of Chinese culture.

Best Time to Visit China

The most recommended time to visit China is in spring and autumn. Spring is ideal for exploring key destinations in China — April and May offer pleasant temperatures, blooming landscapes, and excellent conditions for trekking the Great Wall, visiting the Terracotta Warriors, and enjoying a Li River cruise. Fall is the favorite season for many travelers in China — September and October offer extraordinary golden landscapes, comfortable temperatures, and excellent conditions for visiting all the highlights of China's most popular destinations. May and October are popular months for trekking routes — including Great Wall hiking, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park trekking, and rice terraces exploration in Guilin. Summer can be hot and humid across China — June and the summer months are warm across mainland China, though Chengdu's giant pandas and the extraordinary Yangtze cruise are enjoyable year-round. Winter offers fewer tourists and clear visibility for sightseeing — Beijing's Forbidden City and the Great Wall are extraordinary in winter, with far fewer tourists than peak season. Avoid visiting China during peak Chinese holidays due to extreme crowds.

Yangtze Cruise and China's River Experiences

A Yangtze River cruise through the Three Gorges is one of China's most extraordinary and celebrated travel experiences — the Yangtze cruise rewards every river cruise traveler with extraordinary views of the dramatic gorges, ancient temples, and stunning natural landscapes of one of the world's greatest rivers. The Yangtze cruise offers stunning views of dramatic gorges — the extraordinary Three Gorges of the Yangtze River reward every China tour traveler with breathtaking natural scenery and extraordinary insights into China's extraordinary ancient riverine culture and history. A Yangtze cruise combined with a Beijing Forbidden City visit, Great Wall hiking, Xi'an Terracotta Warriors, and a Li River cruise in Guilin creates one of China's most comprehensive and rewarding China vacation packages — covering all the highlights of mainland China's most extraordinary destinations in one seamless China tour itinerary. River cruises are popular for scenic views in China — our China private tours include fully tailored Yangtze cruise and Li River cruise options for every China trip traveler.

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